Orion II Model 566

High performance HF transceiver, analog + IF-DSP. Dual 32-bit ADI SHARC processors. Optimized amateur bands transceiver plus general coverage sub-receiver.

The Orion II was announced on July 20, 2005 and began production shipment in December 2005. The very first serial numbers were 06C10XX5, indicating June 2005 manufacture date.

The last Orion IIs were shipped in June 2013 (see reflector posting). The serial numbering scheme changed sometime after 2010. The last serial numbers are believed to be 3052691XXO. The six encoder knobs above the vfoA knob changed from black/chrome to all black sometime in 2008 or 2009.

• eHam
• Comments to RSGB & ARRL Reviews by W4ZV
• Reviews are also available on the ARRL Members Only Web site and RSGB/RadCom

• RF / AF Gain Operating Recommendation by KG6TT - a MUST read
• RESET Sequence: Hold Down VFOB LCK button at power-up (RAM Clear), followed by holding down Main RX/TX at power-up (Master Reset) - be sure to recalibrate s-meter (RX Menu-PWR).
• Hi Cut / Low Cut Explained by W4PA and John Henry
• UCW and LCW
• Resetting AGC to Default Values
• Is the 566 BETTER than the 565?
• Orion II Schematic Index
• Orion II audio output circuit explained

• John Henry's comments about the RX366 subreceiver & info on poor performance of 9MHz IF output
• Precisely matching the RX366 and main rx frequencies
• Annotated close-up photo of RX366 cabling
• Signs that the RX-366 is installed:

1. On power up, Orion screen displays "RX-366 Receiver Installed"
2. With SUB RX button enabled, you can turn on PREAMP and ATTN
3. In MENUS-Filtr, the bottom 3 displayed lines are Sub-Rx Slot 1-3

• ALSO SEE MORE EXTENSIVE ORION 565 LISTINGS
• Frequency Calibration Procedure by K6SE-SK PDF Version
• Orion s-meter scale adjustment - also applies to Orion II (thanks VE7TK)
• TCXO Calibration Procedure by N6IE
• Loose Mic Connector Shell
• Internal Power Adjustment
• Mic Gain Pot Adjustment
• Power Distribution Board Capacitor Repair - Dark Screen, Panel Lamps Dim, No Receive.
• 9 MHz IF Output Mod by VE7TK
• Replace Molex Connector with PowerPoles by N2FQ
• Thermostatically Controlled External Fan
• Low RF Output when first powered on
• small encoders - replacement sources and install tips
• Back display screen

• (click on above once and then again to see the beautiful panadapter provided by the Clifton Labs/VE7TK mod, LP-PAN and NaP3 software)
• 9 MHz IF Output Mod by VE7TK
• LP-PAN
• NaP3 software
• Configuring MicroHam USB Router to share Orion CAT port with NaP3

Note: The only truly acceptable 9MHz i.f. output is from the Clifton Labs/VE7TK mod. The 9MHz i.f. output from the RX366 subreceiver does NOT work well. Many late Orion II's were supplied by the factory with this output wired to the SPARE connector unfortunately.

Update: The Clifton Labs Z10000 Buffer amp board is now available through DX Engineering.

• Version 2
• Version 3

• Sherwood Engineering Receiver Test Data
• Technical Explanation of the Design of the ORION SYNTHESIZER, by Lee Jones, WB4JTR
• Technical Explanation of the Design of ORION, by Doug Smith, KF6DX
• Programmable Digital AGC System Utilized in ORION, by Doug Smith, KF6DX
• CW Transmit Occupied Bandwidth and ORION, by Doug Smith, KF6DX
• 32-Bit DSP: A Digital Radio Performance Advantage?, by Doug Smith, KF6DX
• OZ1PIF Orion II Page
• N4PY Rig Control Software
• Orion Rear Panel Mirror Image
• Orion Yahoo Group
• Orion Email List on contesting.com

• Frequency range: 500 kHz-30 MHz sub RX; 1.79-2.01, 3.49-4.07, 5.1-5.42, 6.89-7.43, 10.09-10.16, 13.99-15.01, 18.06-18.175, 20.99-21.46, 24.88-25.01, 27.99-29.71 MHz TX and main RX.
• Tuning Step Size: Selectable 1, 10, 100, 1k, 10k and 100 kHz
• Frequency stability: +/- 1 ppm. TCXO equipped.
• Antenna impedance: 50 ohms nominal.
• Antenna connectors: 2x SO-239; 1xRCA female.
• Modes: USB, LSB, AM, FM, CWUSB, CWLSB, AFSK; advanced Panoramic Stereo™.
• IFs: IF1=9 MHz, IF2=455 kHz, IF3=14.0 kHz main; IF1=45 MHz, IF2=450 kHz, IF3=14.0 kHz sub.
• Display: 320x240 TFT color screen with CCFL backlighting. Adjustable brightness. User selectability of several color screen layouts plus white/black, black/white "monochrome" modes.
• VFOs: Receivers operate on any two bands simultaneously; either VFO may be assigned to transmitter using the A/B system.
• Supply voltage: 13.8 Vdc nominal; reverse-polarity and over-voltage protection standard.
• Operating temperature range: 0-50 degrees C
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 5.25" x 17.0" x 18.75" (13.3 x 43.2 x 47.6 cm)
• Weight: approx 20 lbs. (9.2 kg)
• Construction: Al chassis, steel cabinet, glass-epoxy printed-circuit boards.
• PC control port: EIA-232 standard, DE-9F.

• Digital AGC system: Programmable AGC threshold; programmable hold and decay times, fixed attack. Independently selectable on each receiver.
• RX audio equalizer: In addition to passband tuning, bass/treble boost/cut up to 6 dB/octave.
• RX audio output power: 2 W into 4 ohms, < 3% THD. (see figure 8 below).
• RX headphone output: Designed for 16-32 ohms headphone impedance.
• Line-level output: 0 dBm into 600 ohms.
• RX notch filter: IF DSP, adjustable width, depth> 50 dB, notch reflected on S-meter; multi-tone auto-notch, adjustable 0-9.
• RX noise reduction: IF DSP, adjustable 0-9.

• SSB sensitivity: <0.18 uV for 10 dB SINAD at 2.4 kHz BW, pre-amp on typical; <0.5 uV for 10 dB SINAD at 2.4 kHz BW, pre-amp off typical.
• AM sensitivity: <1.50 uV for 10 dB SINAD at 6.0 kHz BW, 30% modulation, 1 kHz, pre-amp off.
• FM sensitivity: <2.50 uV for 12 dB SINAD at 15 kHz BW, 3-kHz deviation, 1 kHz, pre-amp off.
• Selectivity: 590 built-in DSP filters from 100-6000 Hz, SSB, CW; 4 & 6 kHz AM, 15 kHz FM (-3 dB points, typical). Four 9-MHz-IF crystal filters standard, 15 kHz, 6 kHz, 2.4 kHz, 1.0 kHz; three others optional, 1.8 kHz, 500 Hz and 250 Hz.
• IP3: +25 dBm typical, 20-kHz spacing at BW=2.4 kHz, pre-amp off; +24 dBm typical, 5-kHz spacing, BW=500 Hz, pre-amp off. (see Figure 1 below).
• IMD3 dynamic range: 101 dB typical, pre-amp off, 20-kHz and 5-kHz spacing.
• IP2: +75 dBm typical.
• LO phase noise: -136 dBc/Hz typical from 0.5-20 kHz. (see Figure 2 below)
• Image rejection: >70 dB.
• IF rejection: >70 dB.
• Other spurious response rejection: >90 dB, dF>1 MHz.
• Internal birdies: None stronger than specified sensitivity.
• Current drain: 2 A typical, audio reduced.
• RIT range: +/- 10 kHz.
• S-meter: S-9=50 uV.
• Recovery time: < 20 ms
• Noise blankers: Hardware, on/off and software, adjustable 0-9; operate together or separately.

• Sensitivity: 0.35 uV typical for 10 dB SINAD at 2.4 kHz BW, SSB mode.
• Selectivity: 590 filters built in from 100-6000 Hz, SSB, CW; 4&6 kHz AM; 15 kHz FM (-3 dB points, typical).
• IP3: +5 dBm typical, 20-kHz spacing.
• IP2: +71 dBm typical.
• Image rejection: > 70 dB.
• IF rejection: > 70 dB.
• S-meter: S-9=50 uV
• Recovery time: < 20 ms.
• Noise blanker: Software, adjustable 0-9.

• Power output: Adjustable 5-100 W, +/- 1 dB, ALC controlled.
• Duty cycle: 100% intermittent service; continuous with user-supplied cooling fan.
• Microphone input impedance: >10 kohms at 1 kHz.
• Microphone sensitivity: 5 mV for full power output; internal gain adjustment; dc available for electrets.
• Speech processor: RF compression 0-9.
• Line-level input: -6 dBm into 600 ohms for full output.
• TX bandwidth: 100-3900 Hz in 10-Hz steps.
• TX frequency response: 50-3900 Hz max -6 dB points, adjustable.
• TX equalizer: Up to 6 dB/octave bass/treble boost/cut.
• TX speech monitor: Audio taken after filtering, processing.
• SSB carrier suppression: > 50 dB.
• Unwanted sideband suppression: > 60 dB at 1 kHz.
• Harmonic and spurious outputs: > 50 dB below 100 W;> 40 dB below 5 W.
• T/R switching: PTT or VOX on SSB, AM, FM, AFSK; adjustable QSK on CW; adjustable rise and fall times on CW 3-10 ms;
• CW keyer speed range: 5-50 wpm; adjustable weighting.
• CW offset: Programmable 300-1000 Hz in 10 Hz steps. Sidetone pitch automatically matches selected offset.
• XIT range: +/- 10 kHz
• FM deviation: +/- 5 kHz peak nominal.
• Current drain: 25 A max.